There was a line at the door when the room was nearly full – Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

By Meredith McCulloch

Selectman Margot Fleischman ran the 2019 caucus with good humor and efficiency. Nearly every seat was taken as 84 people filled the Reed Room on a wet winter night. At one point laughter erupted when Cathy Cordes, current Moderator who is running for re-election, described her experience. While describing her membership in the Massachusetts Moderators Association, she confided, “It really is a fun group!”

In the end, there was at least one nominee for each open position except two. One Bedford School Committee seat and the Shawsheen Technical School District representative position had no nominee. Citizens interested in appearing on the ballot for those seats, or for any other contest in the March election, may still get on the ballot by picking up papers from the Town Clerk and gathering a minimum of 50 signatures to file with the Town Clerk by January 16.

At this point, there are contests — more candidates than open seats — for Selectman and Library Trustee.

At this point, there are contests — more candidates than open seats — for Selectman and Library Trustee.

Nomination and acceptance speeches demonstrated the high quality of volunteers who are stepping forward to serve the town.

Candidates who will be designated Caucus Nominee, and the offices for which they are running include:

Residents waiting in line to enter the caucus passed in front of the newly-installed Rufus Porter mural, a donation to the Town by Rick and Kaye Spofford, and the bronze plaque dedicating Town Hall’s former Multipurpose Room to recently retired Town Manager Richard T. Reed – Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image